Joel Matip expected to miss out on Liverpool XI against Real Madrid after confirmed news – pundit
Paul Robinson expects Liverpool defender Joel Matip to be axed from the Liverpool starting XI for the Champions League final.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the former Spurs and England goalkeeper predicted Ibrahima Konate to start alongside Virgil van Dijk in Paris.
Matip started alongside Konate on Sunday as Liverpool beat Wolves 3-1 in their final Premier League game of the season.
Van Dijk was an unused substitute at Anfield after recovering from a knee injury sustained in the FA Cup final against Chelsea on 14 May.
Speaking to club media (25 May), Jurgen Klopp revealed the Netherlands international is now fully fit to face Real Madrid on Saturday.
When asked who will likely partner Van Dijk in Paris, Robinson told Football Insider‘s Dylan Childs: “Neither Matip or Konate played well against Wolves at the weekend.
“But whoever plays alongside Van Dijk improves. He is a top-class player and a leader.
“It is not an issue that’s for sure. They could go with Matip or Konate.
“I think Jurgen Klopp will go for Konate though. They have a good relationship together. They have worked well together in the Champions League this season.
“The important thing is that Van Dijk is fit. The other two are good players but they are not at the level of Van Dijk.
“It doesn’t matter who the manager selects alongside Van Dijk. It’s irrelevant.”
In other news, a pundit has claimed FSG are standing in the way of Liverpool completing a deal for Kylian Mbappe after confirmed news.